Assistant manager Darrell Clarke has told the Bristol Rovers players that they need to âstand up and be countedâ if they are to bounce back from successive defeats. Clarke described Saturdayâs 2-0 reverse at Dagenham & Redbridge as âbelow standardâ and that the âmannerâ in which they had lost the game had not been good enough. Clarke said: âWeâre looking for a reaction from the players throughout this week in training. Iâve been in the game long enough to know that one of the most important things to have as a manager is players who are capable of bouncing back after a couple of poor defeats. They need to be ready to start again when we are back at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday. They have a responsibility now to lift themselves and to stand up to be counted because the last couple of performances have been well below the standard we have come to expect from them.â A vocal assistant. Thats a good thing in my eyes as long as its from the same hymn sheet.
Taken from the post.... http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Darrel...layers-stand/story-19802876-detail/story.html
He's right. But he's also part of the management team which is responsible for organising and motivating the players, so he also needs to pull his finger out and ensure the team know their jobs and what's expected of them. Nothing less than 3 points on Saturday is acceptable. This squad should be challenging, not struggling.
But should this squad be challenging? Aside from the defence, the team is not good enough really, certainly nowhere near the likes of Chesterfield, Rochdale etc. None of the strikers are regular goalscorers, we need someone who can make the most of the hold up play done by Brunt and/or Harrold. I don't think Richards is the answer. And the lack of a winger who can perform well consistently worries me also...
Maybe challenging was a wee bit of blind enthusiasm AMOT, but certainly we should be toying with 7, 8, 9, 10th place. This is very similar to the team that were averaging almost 2 points a game for the second half of last season. There should not be 'bedding in' time - this is not a new squad. We have many players back and available so I just don't think we should be where we are and playing with such fragile confidence.
Yeah I agree with that Bluebaldee, the performances just haven't been up to scratch so far this season. Even when we beat York and Northampton we weren't great, and our away form has just left me wondering what happened to the team that was beating Fleetwood, Rotherham and Oxford so convincingly last season. The confidence has gone, and it seems that since we got relegated the team that was put together either waits for the team to go bottom before playing well, or waits for a new manager to turn up. And perhaps we should've kept Tounkara, as he would have offered something slightly different to Brunt and Harrold, with his pace and direct running.
Absolutely. We're too one-paced and lack players capable of putting penetrating runs together - Tounkara would have given us that. We're pretty much stuck with what we've got re players, so Ward and Clarke will have to figure out a way to get them to play effectively and get our strikers firing. I still believe that there are enough goals in the squad for us to sit comfortably in the top half of the division, but no-one's clicking. Does anyone know when Brunt is back?
If Anyinsah was the answer, we were asking the wrong question! Nah, we're stuck with what we've got and they've got to start delivering. Seven players in that squad which faced the Daggers have extensive experience of playing at a higher level - Championship, League 1, Scottish Premier, International and U-21 caps. On paper we have a good mixture of youth and experience and a few players who'll get you a goal. But none of them are firing and it needs to change sharpish.
The more worrying thing is that they have hardly looked like firing. There has been a lack of creativity, and the decision making is so poor. There must be a response on Saturday.
well our home form is the best its been on 8 seasons so..... lets get the early goal and defend for our lives for the other 87 mins
would you rather win by playing bad or play well and lose? basically do you agree with SO'D who says the results dont matter just the performance??
The result is what matters most, and is what the team and the manager is judged on. Performances do of course matter, but I think SOD needs to get his priorities right. Another point on SOD: Isn't he the most boring guy to listen to? He drones on monotonously, saying the same things in every interview, and his body language is almost as if he is making it clear that he doesn't want to do any media duties.
Now is the time for Mr Clarke to 'Stand up and be counted'; 'Step up to the plate'; 'Come to the aid of the party'; 'Show what he's made of'; 'Show his true colours'. Start sorting out the team tactics and find a formula which works and fast!!! He is a craftsman who must work with the materials and tools which are available to him!!! Just get on with it Darryll!!!!!!
It's a game of two halves, I'll be as sick as a parrot if we lose, you'll never win anything with kids....ad nauseum....
its a whole new ball game, it looks like it may go down to the wire, every game from now on is a 6 pointer. that goal could be an early contender for goal of the season. he sent the keeper the wrong way. now they thinks its all over, it is now. now we can focus on the league.
'Not being funny, but at the end of the day football's a simple game. If we've got the ball they can't score. Things even out over the season and we're due a change of fortune. It only takes a goal off someone's backside to turn the season around. The spirit amongst the lads is good and the week in training has gone well.'
